Resealable food container

ABSTRACT

A polygonal shaped container is provided which includes a wrapper surrounding a food product. The shape of the container is defined by either a frame containing a food product or rigid material incorporated with the wrapper. Access to contents in the container is provided by withdrawing a resealable sealing layer sealed to the top or side surface of the container and withdrawing the sealing layer from the container or by pivoting a rigid lid away from the top of the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a resealable container, and inparticular, a new and improved resealable container having a recloseablesealing cover which can be withdrawn from one of the sides of thecontainer to gain access to its interior.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many conventional containers for food products such as cookies and othersnacks include a frame surrounded by an outer wrapper. The frame acts asa tray to hold the food product and to protect the food product fromdamage. One normally gains access to the contents of the container byopening one end of the wrapper, withdrawing the tray from the insidethereof, and then removing the food product from the tray. However,these containers generally do not provide a convenient opening andreclosing arrangement. For example, reclosing of the wrapper, onceopened, generally includes simply folding or rolling the end down andclipping the end to keep the wrapper closed.

Reclosable seals have been used for dispensing bags for wet tissues ordisposable cleaning wipes. The label on these bags can be pulled back,thereby exposing an opening, allowing access to the wet tissues or wipesinside. Typically, these dispensing bags are completely flexible, formedexclusively of a plastic or other suitable flexible material whichclosely surrounds the pack of wet tissues or wipes. Examples of thesedispensing bags include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,840,270 and 6,026,953, U.S.Des. Pat. No. D 447,054 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2002/0182359. However, such known dispensing bags are not well suitedfor containing food products as these containers fail to provideadequate protection for storing food products.

One recent resealable food container is disclosed in U.S. PatentPublication No. 2004/0206637, herein incorporated by reference. Thedisclosed resealable container is adapted for use with food products andincludes a frame which defines a polygonal shape and a wrapper whichsurrounds the frame and has a top opening. A sealable sealing layer isadhesively sealed to the top.

An additional package used to dispense wet tissues of disposable wipesis a container full of wet tissues marketed under the trade name HUGGIESSUPREME™. This package includes a rigid tray with hinged rigid lid.

An additional recent resealable dispenser-container is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,026,953 in which a resealable dispenser-container is designedfor containing wet tissues. The container is made of a flexible sheetmaterial having a top surface opening for dispensing wet tissues. Areinforcing sheet larger than the dispenser opening is attached to thetop surface of the container. A resealable flap provides for opening andclosing of access to the wet tissues disposed inside the container.

There is a need to provide additional and improved containers for foodproducts having various resealable closure devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide new and improvedcontainers for food products such as cookies and the like and which thecontainer provides adequate protection for the contents thereof, whileconcurrently facilitating opening of the container wrapper and resealingthe container to protect the contents thereof until the contents arefully consumed. An additional purpose of the present invention is toprovide a container which can be manufactured using methods other thanthose used in prior food containers having resealable openings. Afurther purpose of the present invention is to use alternative materialsfor a container for food products.

These purposes are achieved by providing a suitable container composedof selected materials which provide desired characteristics andcontaining food products which are accessible using a resealablecontainer.

In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention comprises afood container having a frame defining the shape of the container wherethe container has a top, bottom and sides connected at the top andbottom. The frame contains a food product. A wrapper surrounds the frameand forms the top, sides and bottom of the container. The top and oneside has an access opening sufficiently large to provide access tosubstantially all the food product contained within the frame. A sealinglayer includes a starter portion which can be grasped by a user. Thesealing layer is adhesively sealed to the top and the one side aroundthe opening. The sealing layer is resealable when the starter portion ispulled in a direction away from the side to which the sealing layer issealed to in turn pull and thereby release at least a portion of thesealing layer to provide access to the top access opening. The sealinglayer is resealable against the top and side to seal the opening whenthe sealing layer is laid back against the top and the side.

In alternative, further embodiments, the top of the wrapper includes aflap which has substantially the same dimensions as that of the openingand is permanently affixed to the sealing layer, and the starter portionincludes a tab which projects past an edge of the side of the containerto which the starter portion is sealed and is accessible beyond the sealto be grasped by a user, when the starter portion is located at thecrimp sealed end of the wrapper.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a foodcontainer comprises a frame defining a polygonal shape of the container.The container has a top, bottom and side connecting the top and bottom.The frame contains a food product. A wrapper surrounds the frame andforms the top sides and bottom of the container. The top has at leasttwo access openings to provide access to substantially all the foodproduct contained within the frame. At least two sealing layers, eachhaving a starter portion which can be grasped by a user are provided.Each of the sealing layers are adhesively sealed to the top around arespective one of the openings. Each of the sealing layers is resealablewhen a respective starter portion is pulled in a direction away from thetop to in turn pull and thereby release a portion of the respectivesealing layer to provide hand access to the respective top accessopening and resealable against the top to seal the respective openingwhen the respective sealing layer is moved back against the top.

In further alternative embodiments, the frame comprises a tray and thetray comprises two compartments, each compartment accessible through arespective one of the at least two openings.

The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a polygonalshaped food container comprising one or more food protectors such asframes containing a food product which define the polygonal shape of thecontainer. The container has a top, bottom and side connecting the topand bottom. A wrapper surrounds one or more of the food products andforms the top, sides and bottom of the container. One of the sides hasat least one access opening sufficiently large to allow one or more foodprotectors to be with withdrawn therethrough. A sealing layer having astarter portion which can be grasped by a user is adhesively sealed tothe side around the opening. The sealing layer is releasable when thestarter portion is pulled in a direction away from the side to in turnpull and thereby release at least a portion of the sealing layer toprovide withdrawal of one or more food protectors and resealable againstthe side to seal the opening when the sealing layer is moved backagainst the side.

In further alternative embodiments, the food protector comprises a tray,a slug surrounding the food product, a core buff surrounding the foodproduct and a frame surrounding the food product, wherein the frame maynot include both a top or bottom.

The present invention, in another form thereof, concerns a polygonalshaped container comprising a wrapper comprising a first flexiblematerial and a second more rigid material than the first material. Thesecond material is incorporated with the wrapper to thereby providerigidity to the wrapper and define faces of the container. The facesinclude a top, sides and bottom of the container. The wrapper withincorporated rigid material contains a food product. One of the faceshas an access opening sufficiently large to provide access to the foodproduct contained within the wrapper. The sealing layer includes astarter portion which can be grasped by a user. The sealing layer isadhesively sealed to one face around the opening. The sealing layer isreleasable when the starter portion is pulled in a direction away fromthe face to in turn pull and thereby release at least a portion of thesealing layer to provide withdraw of the food products and resealableagainst the face to seal the opening when the sealing layer is movedback against the face.

In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention comprises apolygonal shaped food container comprising a frame defining thepolygonal shape of the container. The container has a top, bottom andsides connecting the top and bottom and frame contains a food product. Awrapper surrounds the frame and forms the top bottom and sides of thecontainer. The top has an access opening sufficiently large to provideaccess to substantially all of the food product contained within theframe. A rigid lid is hingedly attached to the top which provides accessto the top opening. The container is transformed to an openconfiguration by pivoting the lid away from the top along the hinge toprovide access to the top opening and returned to a closed configurationby turning the lid back along the hinge so that the lid covers theaccess opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There follows a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, to be read together with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a resealable container in a closedconfiguration in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a partiallyopened configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame of the resealable container ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another frame of a resealable of foodcontainer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another frame of a resealable foodcontainer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another frame for a resealable foodcontainer.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another frame for a resealable foodcontainer.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another resealable food container in aclosed configuration in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 8 in a partiallyopen configuration.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another resealable food container in aclosed configuration in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 10 in a partiallyopen configuration.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another resealable container in aclosed configuration in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 12 in a partiallyopened configuration.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a food protector in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another food protector in accordancewith another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another resealable food container in aclosed configuration in accordance with yet another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 16 in a partiallyopened configuration.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another resealable container in aclosed configuration in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, where like elements are represented bylike numbers throughout the circle views, in FIGS. 1 and 2, resealablecontainer 10 includes wrapper 11 which forms top 12, bottom 13, opposingsides 14 a and 14 b and opposing ends 15 a and 15 b. The top 12 and side14 a have a die-cut-out forming flap 16 as indicated by broken line 19.The flap 16, when pulled back from container 10, forms opening 18. Thewrapper 11 extends past the end of top 12 and bottom 13 at ends 15 a and15 b, where the wrapper 11 is crimped together to form crimp seals 21 a,21 b.

A sealing cover or layer is formed from a sealing label 20 which isaffixed to the flap 16. Advantageously, the sealing label 20 ispermanently affixed to the flap 16 using an appropriate adhesive. Thesealing label 20 covers a substantial portion of the top 12 extendingfrom the proximity of side 14 a to the proximity of the side 14 b andfrom the proximity of end 15 a to the proximity of end 15 b. A portionof the sealing label 20 extends over top surface edge 17 and extendsalong side 14 a.

The surface area of sealing label 20 is advantageously proportional tothe size of opening 18. For example, if the sealing label 20 is toolarge, the covering could get caught or overlap corners 23 a, 23 b ofthe package 10, or it could get caught up in the crimp seals 21 a, 21 b,both potentially hindering functionality of sealing label 20.Advantageously, the surface area of the sealing label 20 should beapproximately 1.5 to 2 times and more preferably around 1.8 times thesize of opening 18. Further, it is advantageous to have the size ofopening 18 be proportional to the size of the package 10 and the fooditems contained therein so that, when the container is still full offood product, the consumer will have easy access to at essentially allof the food product inside the package, for example, not requiring oneto reach deep inside the container 10 under top 12 to gain access to afood item contained therein. Of course as the container is emptied, theconsumer can gain easy access to the remaining food product.

Graphics may be formed on the sealing label 20 which align withcorresponding graphics on top 12 when the sealing label 20 is sealed orin a flap position on top 12 and side 14 a. Alternatively, sealing label20 may be transparent, allowing graphics of top 12, side 14 a and flap16 to be visible through the sealing label 20.

A starter portion, for example tab 22 extends from sealing label end 24.As a result, tab 22 can be grasped by ones fingers and thumb such thatthe tab 22 is easily accessible for one to pull. Further, the tab 22allows a user to reseal the package. The size and shape of tab 22 areoptimized for functionality. Advantageously, tab 22 has a surface areaof 1% to 6% that of the total surface area of the sealing label 20.

Adhesive 26 is applied to the surface of sealing label 20 which is incontact with top 12 and side 14 a which includes the perimeter aroundflap 16. Advantageously, adhesive 26 provides a removable seal between asealing label 20 and top 12 and side 14 a. Adhesive 26 is not applied totab portion 22.

The absence of an adhesive on tab 22 allows a consumer to more easilygrasp the starter portion in order to open the container 10 since tab 22will not be sealed to the side 14 a. In addition, by giving a consumer aspecific portion of the sealing cover on which to pull, the consumer isnot drawn to touching the adhesive portion of the sealing label 20which, because of such touching, could lose its adhesiveness and thusnot provide for a proper reseal against the side 14 a of the container10. This could, in turn, allow air to gain access to the interior of thecontainer 10 and the food product contained therein.

The sealing label 20 is made of a suitable material which provides for adesired moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR). The MVTR of sealinglabel 20 limits the amount of moisture transmission between the interiorof container 10 and the outside environment, thus maintaining thefreshness of the food product contained therein. One preferable materialfor the sealing label 20 is 2 mil biaxially oriented polypropylene(BOPP) material with a 0.15 g/in²/day MVTR. Preferable materials for thecombination of the sealing label 20 and flap 16 have a maximum MVTR of0.01 g/in²/day.

Container 10 is transformed from a closed configuration depicted in FIG.1 to a partially open configuration depicted in FIG. 2 by grasping thetab 22 between ones fingers and thumb and pulling back on the sealinglabel 20 to gain access to opening 18. Once container 10 is opened, onecan remove individual food product 28 such as cookies or other discretefood item contained inside the container 10 through opening 18.

Wrapper 11 surrounds a frame 30 which forms a tray for receiving thefood contents. Referring to FIG. 3, the frame 30 is comprised of a rigidmaterial which forms that shape of the container 10. Suitable rigidmaterials include plastics and cardboard. Frame 30 includes ends 31 aand 31 b. A divider 32 divides the frame 30 into a first section 34 anda second section 36.

Frame 30 can be any polygonal shape such as the rectangular shapedepicted in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the rectangularly shaped frame 30 formsa rectangularly shaped container 10. Alternately, different polygonalshaped frames will form containers having the corresponding polygonalshape.

In other alternative embodiments, frames other than frame 30, which hasa single divider 32 extending longitudinally along the length of theframe 30, can be used to form resealable containers. For example,referring to FIG. 4, frame 40 includes a plurality of dividers 42extending longitudinally along the frame 40. Referring to FIG. 5, frame50 includes a plurality of dividers 52 which extend transversely acrossthe width of the frame 50. FIG. 6 depicts a frame 60 which does notinclude a divider or ends. FIG. 7 depicts a frame 70 which does notinclude a divider or a bottom, having merely ends 71 a and 71 b andopposing sides 72 a, 72 b.

Selection of a particular frame depends on a desired use. Further,various frames may include ends such as frames 30, 40, and 50 which haveends 31 a, 31 b, 41 a, 41 b, 51 a, 51 b; or the frame may be opened atthe ends such as frame 60 with open ends 61 a, 61 b.

In an alternative embodiment, FIGS. 8 and 9 depict container 110. Likeelements in container 110 are numbered similarly to those of container10 but raised by 100. Container 110 includes wrapper 111 formed around arigid frame such as one of the frames 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 discussedherein. A continuous parallel die-cut 119 is formed in the wrapper 111along a portion of top 112 which extends past edge 117, along end 115 aand terminates at a package crimp seal 121 a of wrapper 111, so that thedie-cut 119 forms flap 116. Top 112 is not die-cut along end 115 b thusforming a hinged end in the proximity of end 115 b.

A sealing label 120 is affixed to flap 116 along top 112 and end 115 a.A starter portion in the form of tab 122 extends from the end of crimpseal 121 a. Like container 10, access into opening 118 is provided by auser grasping tab 122 between ones finger and thumb and pulling back ontab 122 to withdraw sealing label 120 with flap 116 permanently affixedthereto thereby exposing opening 118. As a result, one is able to gainaccess to food product 128.

One advantage of container 110 is that the parallel cuts forming opening118 allow for the access opening 118 to be formed without need for aregistration system to cut an opening in the wrapper 111 as the die-cut119 feature can be formed in a continuous fashion.

An alternative embodiment of container 210 is depicted in FIGS. 10 and11 where like reference numbers are increased by 200 over those ofcontainer 10 of FIG. 1. Container 210 includes a pair of openings 218 a,218 b in top 212. A pair of parallel die-cuts 219 a, 219 b forms flaps216 a, 216 b which are affixed to sealing labels 220 a, 220 b,respectively. In one advantageous form, each sealing label 220 a, 220 bprovides access to the food contents contained within a tray whichdefines the shape of container 210 and contains the food product. Forexample, the tray may include two compartments, each one located underone of the openings 218 a, 218 b. Access to food product contained inthe tray is provided through the corresponding opening.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, in an alternative embodiment,container 310 includes a side opening 318 formed in side 314 a. Theopening 318 is sufficiently large to allow one to withdraw food productcontained therein.

The food product may be contained in any appropriate food protectorwhich includes any of the frames or trays 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70.Alternatively, the food protector may be a slug 80 surrounding a foodproduct as shown in FIG. 14 or a core buff 90 depicted in FIG. 15 whichprovides rigidity to the container 310 and provides protection to a foodproduct wrapped therein. Slugs 80 can be formed from a plastic or waxpaper or other suitable material. Core buff 90 can be formed from acorrugated cardboard paper or other suitable wrap material.Alternatively, individual trays containing a single row of food productlike tray 60 which may or may not be closed at ends 61 a, 61 b, may bedisposed in container 310. The individual trays can be individuallywithdrawn thereby removing a single row of food product from container310 through opening 318.

In an alternative embodiment to container 310, the sealing label 320 canbe peelable from side 314 a from both the left side as shown in FIGS. 12and 13 as well as from the right side, in a manner similar to sealinglabel 220 of container 210, thus allowing one to access opening 318 fromeither the left side or right side of the container.

In yet another alternative embodiment, FIGS. 16 and 17 depict container410 which comprises a wrapper 411 which surrounds a rigid frame thatprovides the polygonal shape of container 410. A rigid lid 423 includeshinges 425 which pivotally attach lid 423 to rigid collar 426 which inturn is attached to top 412. Lid 423 includes lip 427 and raised portion428 defining a groove 429, therebetween. When in its closedconfiguration, lid 423 interlockingly engages with collar 426 by havingcollar 426 engage with and be disposed in groove 429. Access to foodproduct contained in container 410 is provided by one pulling up on tab430 and pulling back on lid 423 so that lid 423 pivots along hinges 425.

In another embodiment, FIG. 18 depicts container 510 which is formed bywrapper 511 composed of a flexible material similar to that of wrapper11. Unlike container 10, the polygonal shape of container 510 isprovided by a rigid material incorporated into wrapper 511 on theperimeter edges of each face of the container such as perimeter 517.Advantageously, a strip of rigid plastic material may be formed on eachface of container 510 such as the perimeter of each face to provide adesired rigidity to container 510. Access into container 510 is similarto that of container 310.

An alternative to any of the aforementioned embodiments would be tocombine the rigidity of material 517 to one or more faces of any of thecontainers of the present invention to provide additional rigidity tothe respective container.

As will now be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the presentcontainers provided features advantages not found in prior foodcontainers.

Although the invention has been described in detail with respect topreferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that the invention iscapable of numerous modifications and variations, apparent to thoseskilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A food container comprising: a frame defining the shape of thecontainer, said container having a top, a bottom and sides connectingthe top and bottom, the frame containing a food product; a wrappersurrounding said frame, said wrapper forming the top, sides and bottomof the container; said top and one said side having an access openingsufficiently large to provide access to substantially all of the foodproduct contained within the frame; and a sealing layer having a starterportion which can be grasped by a user, said sealing layer adhesivelysealed to said top and said one side around said opening, said sealinglayer being releasable when said starter portion is pulled in adirection away from said side to in turn pull and thereby release atleast a portion of said sealing layer to provide said hand access tosaid top access opening and resealable against said top and side oneside to seal said opening when said sealing layer is moved back againstsaid top and said one side.
 2. The food container of claim 1, whereinsaid top and the one said side of said wrapper comprise a flap havesubstantially the same dimensions as said opening and permanentlyaffixed to said sealing layer.
 3. The food container of claim 1, whereinsaid starter portion comprises a tab which projects past an edge of saidone side of the container upon which said starter portion is sealed,said tab being accessible beyond said edge to be grasped by a user. 4.The food container of claim 1, wherein said starter portion comprises atab.
 5. The food container of claim 1, wherein said sealing layer istransparent.
 6. The food container of claim 1, wherein said top of thecontainer includes graphics around said opening, and said sealing layerincludes graphics which match the graphics on said top.
 7. The foodcontainer of claim 1, wherein said starter portion is located at a crimpseal end of said wrapper.
 8. A polygonal shaped food containercomprising: a frame defining the polygonal shape of the container, saidcontainer having a top, a bottom and sides connecting the top andbottom, the frame containing a food product; a wrapper surrounding saidframe, said wrapper forming the top, sides and bottom of the container;said top having at least two access openings to, together, provideaccess to substantially all of the food product contained within theframe; and at least two sealing layers, each having a starter portionwhich can be grasped by a user, each said sealing layer adhesivelysealed to said top around a respective one of said two openings, eachsaid sealing layer being releasable when a respective said starterportion is pulled in a direction away from said top to in turn pull andthereby release at least a portion of said respective sealing layer toprovide said hand access to said respective top access opening andresealable against said top to seal said respective opening when saidrespective sealing layer is moved back against said top.
 9. Thepolygonal shaped food container of claim 8, wherein said frame comprisesa tray.
 10. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 9, wherein saidtray comprises two compartments, each compartment accessible through arespective one of the at least two openings.
 11. The polygonal shapedfood container of claim 9, wherein at least one of said at least twosealing layers extends from said top along at least a portion of one ofthe sides of said container.
 12. A polygonal shaped food containercomprising: one or more food protectors containing a food product anddefining the polygonal shape of the container, said container having atop, a bottom and sides connecting the top and bottom; a wrappersurrounding said one or more food protectors, said wrapper forming thetop, sides and bottom of the container; one of said sides having anaccess opening sufficiently large to allow said one or more foodprotectors to be withdrawn therethrough; and a sealing layer having astarter portion which can be grasped by a user, said sealing layeradhesively sealed to said one side around said opening, said sealinglayer being releasable when said starter portion is pulled in adirection away from said side to in turn pull and thereby release atleast a portion of said sealing layer to provide withdrawal of said oneor more food protectors and reclosable against said side to seal saidopening when said sealing layer is moved back against said side.
 13. Thepolygonal shaped food container of claim 12, wherein said one or morefood protectors comprises a tray.
 14. The polygonal shaped foodcontainer of claim 12, wherein said one or more food protectorscomprises a slug surrounding the food product.
 15. The polygonal shapedfood container of claim 12, wherein said one or more one food protectorscomprises a core buff surrounding the food product.
 16. The polygonalshaped food container of claim 12, wherein said one or more one foodprotectors comprises a frame surround the food product.
 17. Thepolygonal shaped food container of claim 16, wherein said framecomprises sides but not a bottom or a top.
 18. A polygonal shaped foodcontainer comprising: a wrapper composed of a first, flexible material;a second material more rigid than the first material, said secondmaterial incorporated with said wrapper to provide rigidity to saidwrapper and to define faces of the container, said faces comprising atop, sides and bottom of the container, the wrapper with incorporatedrigid material containing a food product; one of said faces having anaccess opening sufficiently large to provide access to the food productcontained within the wrapper; and a sealing layer having a starterportion which can be grasped by a user, said sealing layer adhesivelysealed to said one face around said opening, said sealing layer beingreleasable when said starter portion is pulled in a direction away fromsaid face to in turn pull and thereby release at least a portion of saidsealing layer to provide withdrawal of said food items and reclosableagainst said face to seal said opening when said sealing layer is movedback against said face.
 19. The polygonal shaped food container of claim18, wherein said second material is disposed along substantially theentire the perimeter of at least one of said faces of said container.20. A polygonal shaped food container comprising: a frame defining thepolygonal shape of the container, said container having a top, a bottomand sides connecting the top and bottom, the frame containing a foodproduct; a wrapper surrounding said frame, said wrapper forming the top,sides and bottom of the container; said top having an access openingsufficiently large to provide access to substantially all of the foodproduct contained within the frame; and a rigid lid hingedly attached tosaid top, wherein said container is transformed to an openedconfiguration by pivoting said lid away from said top along said hingeto provide said access to said top access opening, and returned to aclosed configuration by turning said lid back along said hinge so thatsaid lid covers said access opening.
 21. The polygonal shaped foodcontainer of claim 20 further comprising a rigid collar surrounding saidaccess opening; said collar engaging with said lid when said containeris in a closed configuration.
 22. The polygonal shaped food container ofclaim 21, wherein said collar forms an interlocking engagement with saidlid when said container is in the closed configuration.